(TibetanReview.net, Jan 06) — The economic development and tourism traffic in Tibet will be greatly boosted once the planned Sichuan-Tibet Railway is built, reported China’s online Tibet news service eng.tibet.cn Jan 6. The railway has been listed into ‘The National Medium and Long-Term Railway Network Development Plan’,” Pasang, executive director of TAR Railway Office, was quoted as saying. It was not clear how long this meant for the railway being actually built and becoming operational.

The new railway will greatly influence the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) especially the Chamdo Prefecture, Nyingchi Prefecture and Lhasa, and will involve adjusting the development plan of Tibet accordingly, Pasang was further cited as saying.

Likewise, Fu Yushou, vice director of TAR Railway Office, had said the new railway would bring the TAR into the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. He has said the Zone will be enabled to trade with South Asia via Tibet, “which helps it enter into the South Asia Economic Circle”.

Tanor, inspector of TAR Tourism Bureau, had said the planned railway would lead to an at least 20 percent growth in tourism in the TAR. He has said the route has amazing natural landscapes but, at present, few self-driving tourists visit it because of its terrain.